A 12-foot, 1,009-pound massive female white shark tagged in Nova Scotia has traveled nearly 2,000 nautical miles and was tracked Jan. 30 near Mississippi’s Chandeleur Islands, according to OCEARCH researchers.
A great white shark weighing 1,009 pounds, previously tagged off the coast of Nova Scotia, has been spotted in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Researchers have been monitoring her movements, which brought her near the Mississippi coast late last week.
A 12-foot female shark, identified as Ernst, was detected at 5:30 a.m. on January 30, just south of the Chandeleur Islands, approximately 25 miles from Biloxi, as reported by the marine research nonprofit OCEARCH. The islands are located approximately 50 to 75 miles to the east of New Orleans.
In early October, researchers equipped Ernst with a tracking tag in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia. Since that time, she has journeyed approximately 2,000 nautical miles, consistently migrating southward to the warmer waters of the Gulf during the winter months.
Sharks emit a “ping” signal when the tracking device affixed to their dorsal fin breaches the water's surface for a minimum of 45 seconds. Due to this requirement, sharks may go for weeks without sending a signal. Ernst's last ping was recorded on January 11, close to Bon Secour Bay, an inlet of Alabama's Mobile Bay, where she was situated approximately four miles offshore.
OCEARCH data scientist John Tyminski reported on Instagram on January 11 that tagged white sharks have been observed using this area of the northeastern Gulf in previous years. He noted that observing one of these creatures moving within a few miles of the shore is “less common” and highlights the necessity for a deeper understanding of the factors influencing the apex predator’s movements in the Gulf.
OCEARCH has classified Ernst as a sub-adult, estimating her age to be between 10 and 30 years. Despite her impressive size, it is probable that she has not yet attained full maturity. As reported by the National Wildlife Federation, female great white sharks generally attain sexual maturity at an approximate length of 15 feet. As they grow older, their dietary preferences transition from fish to larger marine mammals.
Ernst has been named in honor of the William G. Ernst ferry, a service that connects Big Tancook and Little Tancook islands in Nova Scotia.
The Gulf journey has captured public interest, with online tracking maps providing real-time updates with each new ping. Despite her impressive journey, she has yet to reach the distance covered by another tagged female, LeeBeth. This 14-foot, 2,800-pound great white was tracked as far west as South Padre Island and Tamaulipas, Mexico, during the spring of 2024.
Currently, Ernst is navigating through Gulf waters on her winter voyage, as both researchers and the public eagerly anticipate her next signal.
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